Dave,
It is obvious that there is a whole generation of Leo-FM sat users
that are clueless of what ham radio on a Heo linear-tranponder is
like. Although it must be harder than a cell phone since so many
cannot seem to figure out how to operate on the Leos...I would say it
is not "much" harder than using the local repeater.
I offer an analogy: Compare all the ham radio contacts that are done
on HF with the same number of folks trying to talk thru a single FM
repeater! First it cannot be done; second the attempt results in
total chaos with "big fish" eating the little fishes!
I am waiting for the next Heo and hoping it survives better than the last one.
73 Ed - KL7UW
At 12:31 PM 5/14/2008, Dave Guimont wrote:
>John, the operation of FM voice satellites is a travesty for ham radio...
>>I've been licensed for 57 years, on amateur satellites for 33 years
>(Oscar 7) and the FM voice operation is the most ridiculous
>aberration I've witnessed in all of amateur radio...Pandemonium
>exists here also!!
>>It is pretty obvious NO COMMUNICATION exists on AO51,
>all of their communication is on here. Why do they bother to turn
>the radio on???
>>Many of us attended AMSAT a lot conventions in an attempt to
>discourage throwing that money "down the tubes" on FM voice, to no
>avail. Someone had an "ax to grind", and several of the existing
>"powers that be" in AMSAT-NA told me to "mind my own business". They
>were obviously the "ax grinders".
>>FM voice on the amateur satellites is about equal to the same degree
>of difficulty as a cell phone operation!
>>No wonder our membership is deteriorating.
>>Ancient AO7 and present VO52 hopefully are keeping some interest,
>until Europe launches P3E....
>>That's where my donations go.....
>>>>At 10:14 AM 5/13/2008, you wrote:
>> >In 17 years of satellite operating - and literally thousands of
> >QSO's, I'm proud of the fact that I have actually had 2 - (that's
> >two, folks) - QSO's on FM. I believe the last one was W3SM/OE on
> >AO-27 about 10 years ago.
> >
> >For want of something better to do today I went outside with my
> >arrow aerial, a MYCOM handheld scanner and a little IC-E91 (also
> >handheld) to have a listen to AO-51 ... (I've heard it described
> as a "zoo").
> >
> >I monitored the 16:15Z pass over Russia/LA/Europe/UK and what I
> >heard can only be described as the worst operating I've heard in 41
> >years of radio.
> >
> >
> >I also sincerely hope that the standard of operating (read:
> >disipline/ proceedure) is better in North America than it is in
> >Europe - actually, I've listened via N1DID and Echolink, as well as
> >the promo video so I know it is.
>>>>>>> 73, Dave, WB6LLO
>dguimon1 at san.rr.com>> Disagree: I learn....
>> Pulling for P3E...
>>_______________________________________________
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